Adjustable shelving



c. w. ATTWOOD ADJUSTABLE SHELVING Sept. 21, 1943.

Filed Nov.- 4, 19.42

, r/fl FlG.l.

FIGS.

ey-r.

INVENTOR.

CHARLES W. ATTWOOD 3 x1 ATTORNE Patented septzl, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I i a 2,329,815 Y i ADJUSTABLE SHELVING I I Charles W. Attwood, Wayne, Mich. Application November 4, 1942, Serial No. 464,497 i 7 Claims. (01. 211-147) 7 Thi invention relates to adjustable shelving for uses such as stock bins, display racks, and the like. One object of'myinvention is the provision of light, strong, skeleton framework for adiustable shelving, with ready fastening of the framing and supporting members in desired positions, where they reinforce each other and provide means for positioning the horizontal shelves as well as vertical partitions and front and rear wall members as desired.

Another object of my invention is the formation of the skeleton framework for adjustable shelving with'itsvertical and horizontal framing 'members of identical square-formed channel members having one side open to form a continuous slot, with means adjustably mounted in the slotted face for securing the component members to each other permanently if desired, but with ready adjustability and accurate alignment of Joined parts without the necessity of any welding or drilling operations. i

A further object of, my invention is the pro- "vision'of adjustable shelving framework of novel hollow rectangular all metal'material, preferably L centrated load is applied.

A further object of my invention is the arrangement of screw-threaded holding means for V gripping the clamping ridges of suchhollow rectangular members at any point along their entire lengths, with provision for readily introducing such holding means into the interior .of the hollow rectangular members through such slots,

quickly adjusting the positions of the holding" members within the slots whenever desired, and maintenance of the holding members in selected positions as long as desired.

Other objects and advantages will be apparen from the following description, wherein reference i made to the accompanying drawing illustrating'the preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein similarre'ference numerals designate similar parts throughout, the several views.

In the drawing: 7 a Figure l is a perspective view of my improved adjustable shelving positioned to form a stock bin.

I V f v j Figure 2 is a front view thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 3'-3 of'Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view showing a preferred comer fastening arrangement whereby two horizontal members at right angles to each other are secured to a vertical member.

7 Figure 5 is a detail perspective view showing in enlarged section one; of i the hollow rectangular in metal framing members.

' Figure 6 is a perspective view of th bolt.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the slotted nut cooperating with the bolt of Figure 6,, as well as with the clamping ridgesof Figure 5.

Figure 8: is anenlarged detail vertical cross section shoWlngqt-he positioning of. horizontal shelving and vertical partition and wall members with relation to the metal framing members. a

Referring now to the drawing, reference nil- 'meral l0 designates the vertical framing supports for my improved shelving and the numerals II and I2 designate horizontal framing members adapted to be secured to the vertical members l0 invarious adjusted positions, substantially as sho'wnin. Figure 4. These members l0, ll and,

' 1-2 are of identical hollow rectangular material, preferably metal, and herein shown as squareiormed with rounded corners and with one face thereof slotted throughout the entire length of the material. Such hollow rectangular members are best shown in perspective in Figures 4 and 5. The side walls of the slot are formed of intumed flanges l3, herein termed clamping ridges," with their free edges beveled to impart a sharpened or pointed crosssection to facilitate securing, of clamping nuts H in various selected positions along the flanges I3. One of clamping nuts l4, shown in perspective in Figure 7, with parts broken away, and such nut is narrower than the slot in the hollow rectangular members to permit ready insertion of the nut-through the 7 slot when properly turned. The length of the 'nut' l4, however, is greater than the distancebetween the clamping ridges l 3 ,qso that after the nut is'inserted inth'e hollow member, it can be maintained in position by simplyturning'the nut at right angles to the slot, where its endsunder" hang and are retained by-the clamping ridges l3. The face of the nut which'engages the'clampmg ridges i3 is provided with slots A to receive the clamping ridges [3 when the nut is tightened into place as shown in Figure 8,'and whenthe nut is so .tight'ened,the flanges on opposite sides of the slot are rigidly tied together, whereby the hollow rectangular member is reinforced at the point i into thepreviously ing the bolts and replacing the nuts new locations, 1' turned home.

hollow members l0, H and I2.

site 'corners'of as. shown atllC, so

quarter turn clockwise.

of the hollow members, which tightened, and also of load, completing the hollow square at the P sltion of the nut. The bottoms of the slots ISA are provided with hardened teeth or serrations B which, when the nut is drawn up tight, bite into the beveled extremities of the flanges l3 to assist in retaining the nut in desired position by positively locking it against longitudinal sliding movement along the flanges.

A spring I5 is preferably secured to and projects from the bottom face of the nut It, being large enough in diameter to allow the stem of the bolt lito pass freely therethrough,'as shown in Figure 8. The spring is compressed against the wall of the channel member opposite the slotted wall thereof when the nut is inserted through the slot and turned into place, friction being thus imposed on the nut to temporarily hold it against sliding in the hollow member due to its own weight, or as the result of vibration prior to its secural in selective position by turning the bolt i6 home. This arrangement enables the placing of the nuts in advance, even in vertically arranged hollowrectangular members, without danger of displacement, while the parts to be attached may be securedzin place at any time thereafter simply by thrusting the complementary bolt portions 16 positioned nuts and tightening the same. While the springs serve'to hold the nuts in desired location before the bolts are insertedtherein, it will be seen that these nuts can he moved at will within the hollow member by pushing the nut againstthe spring to release it from engagement with the clamping ridges and "then moving it along the channel in either directionb In this manner a lurality of nuts may be preliminarily placed at desired spacing, to enable accurate alignment of the opposite ends of shelf and partition supports, or any one or several such supports'can beshifted to new positions by releasto the desired whereupon the bolts are again The length of the nut 14 is substantially equal to the distance between the side webs of the Diagonally oppothe nuts are rounded, substantially that the nut may be readily turned from the initial position of insertion through the slot to its position of use, as by a At this point further rotation of the nut is prevented'by the engagement of the unreduced corners with the side walls thus assist in holding the nut against turning as the bolt is being insure proper alignment of the slots MA with the the positioning of the nuts. The bolt I6 maybe of conventional or any desired type.

As best shown in Figures 1-4, the vertical sup- .ports I!) are arranged in spaced pairs with the horizontal supports ll extending from end to end of the several pairs of upright supports 10, and the horizontal supports l2 extending from front to back between aligned pairs of the horizontal supports II. The slotted faces of each pair of upright supports lil face inwardly, or toward each other, while the slotted faces of the horizontal supports II and I2 face downwardly, substantially as shown in Figure 4.

To secure the horizontal supports H and i2 at various heights along the upright supports ill, I preferably provide brackets 20 substantially as shown in Figure4. These brackets 20 are formed of right-angled material with one arm aperture clamping ridges l3 during and rear edges extending into upright supports I to the upright supports Ill.

The shelves I! may be of plywood or other sui able material and rest on the upper faces of the horizontal supports II and I2, being held against forward or backward movement by the upright supports l0 and against endwise movement by vertical end pieces l8, also of plywood or other suitable material, which close the ends of the display rack orstock bin, etc. Backboards 19 preferably extend from end to end of the display rack, etc. and have their upper edges extending into the slots of the horizontal supports ll adjacent the rear of the display rack, as best shown in' Figures 3 and 8. Notches may be cut in the upper edges of the backboards to clear the brackets 20 at each upright support ID, or the backboards I! may be made of lengths corresponding to the distance between the upright supports in and their upper corners notched to clear adjacent brackets 20.

Partitions 2| are preferably arranged between aligned pairs of upright supports it! with their lower edges resting on the shelving 11, their front the slots of aligned upright supports l0, and their upper edges extending into the slot of the horizontal support 12 arranged between aligned pairs of upright supports, as best shown in Figure 3.

The upper corners of each partition is notched, substantially as shown at 2 IA to clear the brackets 20. Adjacent the lower front corners of each partition may also be arranged notches 2IB for the reception of front boards 22, which are of lesser height than the backboards l9 and extend from end to end of the display rack. The front boards 22 are preferably slid into position from one end of the display rack just before one end piece I8 is secured in place, and by passing through the slots 2IB of each partition at that level, each front board 22 acts as a sort of key to position the shelving parts and prevent accidental displacement.

It will be obvious that my improved shelving may be arranged without a front board or without a back board, and that partitions may be omitted between certain of the aligned pairs of IO without departing from the spirit of my invention. Also the shelves may be arranged at various heights along the upright supports l0 and any particular shelf can be raised 2. Shelving as recited in I claim: 1. Shelving comprising spaced vertical supp s,

'ing clamping ridges at the sides-of the slots, and

and shelves resting on the horizontal supports.

claim 1 wherein backboards rest on the shelves and extend into the slots of one of said horizontal supports.

3. Shelving as recited in claim 1 wherein partitions rest on the shelves and extend into slots of aligned vertical supports and one of said horizontal supports.

4. Shelving as recited in claim 1 wherein partitions rest on the shelves and extend into slots of aligned vertical supports and one of said horizontal supports, said partitions having cut out notches at their upper corners to clear said apertured brackets; I

5. Shelving as recited in claim 1 wherein partitions rest on the shelves and extend into slots of aligned vertical-supports and one of said horizontal supports, said partitions having cut out notches at their upper corners to clear said apertured brackets, said partitions also having slots arranged near their lower front face, and front boards resting on said shelves and extending through said slots in said partitions.

6. Shelving comprising spaced pairs of upright supports of hollow square-formed material slotted throughout their entire length: and arranged -ridlges, whereby tlghtclamping ridges at slots fitting over .other, longitu with their slotted faces facing each other, longitudinally arranged horizontal supports and laterally arranged horizontal supports secured to said upright supports, said horizontal supports being similarly formed of hollow square-formed material slotted throughout their lengths and with their slotted faces facing downwardly, means for securing the horizontal supports at various positions upon said vertical supports ineluding bolts extending through the slots of the supports and engaging said supports interiorly thereof, shelves resting upon said horizontal sup-' ports, backboards resting upon said shelves and with their upper edges extending into the slots of the rearmost longitudinally arranged horizonj tal supports, and partitions resting on said shelves with their upper edges extending into the slots of the laterally arranged horizontal supports and their side edges extending into the slots of aligned vertical supports. 7

'7. Adjustable shelving comprising spaced pairs of upright supports of hollow square-formed material slotted throughout their entire lengths and arra ged with their slotted faces facing each ally arranged horizontal sup- 7 ports and laterally arranged horizontal supports, I said horizontal supports being similarlyiormed w of hollow square-formed material and slotted throughout their lengths and with their slotted faces facing downwardly; said upright and horizontal supports having inwardly projecting the sides of the slots, securing means consisting of apertured brackets, bolts passing through the apertures in said brackets and through the slots of the supports, slotted nuts arranged within the hollow members with their the clamping ridges-whereby tightening of the bolts will serve to clamp the nuts firmly upon the clamping ridges of the supports, and shelves resting on th horizontal sup- Ports.

CHARLES .W. ATTWOOD. 

